Article release mechanism for vending machine incorporating sliding gates



Nov. 28, 1961 D. H-. LYONS 3,010,608

ARTICLE RELEASE MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINE INCORPORATING SLIDINGGATES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 25, 1959 FIG. 1

INVENTOR DONALD H. LYONS ATTORNEYS Nov. 28, 1961 D. H. LYONS 3,010,608ARTICLE RELEASE MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINE INCORPORATING SLIDINGGATES Filed March 25, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

"IINVEIW-OR. DONALD H. LYONS Maud:

' AT ORNEYS Nov. 28, 1961 D. H. LYONS 3,010,608

ARTICLE RELEASE MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINE INCORPORATING SLIDINGGATES Filed March 25, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. DONALD H. LYONSATTORNEYS Nov. 28, 1961 D. H. LYONS 3,010,608

ARTICLE RELEASE MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINE INCORPORATING SLIDINGGATES FIG. 5

INVENTOR D ONALD H. LYONS Nov. 28, 1961 D. H. LYONS 3,010,608

- ARTICLE RELEASE MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINE INCORPORATING SLIDINGGATES Filed March 25, 1959 5 Sheects-Sheet 5 INVENTOR DONALD H. 'LYONSBY {WM 51 ATTORNEYS misses Patented Nov. 2%, liifil 3,010,608 ARTICLERELEASE P/ECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINE INCORFORATING SLIDWG GATES DonaldH. Lyons, Columbus, Ohio, assignor to Ideal Dispenser (30., Coiumhus,Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Mar. 25, 1959, Ser. No. 801,791 14Claims. (Cl. 221125) This invention relates to vending machines and moreparticularly to an article release mechanism for a vending machineadapted to dispense a plurality of article types.

in general, the vending machine of the present invention includes aplurality of vertically spaced shelves each of which communicates withan article releasing station. A plurality of slidably mounted gates, onefor each of the article releasing stations, are mounted on a track meansin superimposed relationship.

The vending machine of the present invention further includes a novelarticle release mechanism and interlock comprising a plurality ofinterconnected latch elements each or" which is actuated by movement ofa gate and arranged to move into obstructing relationship with a nextadjacent gate. Hence, when a selected gate is moved, all the other gatesin the plurality are positively locked against the release of articles.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novelrelease mechanism comprising a plurality of slidable gates and novelinterlock means for permitting movement of any one of the gatesselected, while, at the same time, preventing movement of all the gatesin the plurality other than the one selected.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel releasemechanism comprising a plurality of slidable gate means and a novellocking means for obstructing all of said gate means against movement,said locking means being adapted to release all of said gate means formovement responsive to insertion of a coin in a coin acceptancemechanism.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the invention isclearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a vending machine constructedaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of an article release mechanismconstructed according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a second rear perspective View of the article releasemechanism of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of a locking means comprising aportion of the article release mechanism of the present invention, saidlocking means being illustrated in a locked position;

FIG. 5 is a second rear perspective view of the lock ing means of FIG.4, said locking means being disposed in 21 released position; and I FIG.6 is a partial view showing two of the article releasing stationscomprising a portion of the mechanism of FIG. 1, the view being takenalong the line 66 of FIG. 1.

Referring in detail to the drawing a vending machine constructedaccording to the present invention is indicated generally at 20, FIG. 1,and includes a storage compartment 21 provided with a plurality ofsuperimposed inclined shelves 2226.

The lower end of each of the inclined shelves 2226 communicates with anarticle releasing station 28-32,.

The article release mechanism of the present invention includes a framemeans indicated generally at 35 that carries a plurality of verticallysuperimposed slidable gates indicated generally at 364i With referenceto FIGS. 2 and 3, a front panel 42 of frame means 35 and a verticallydisposed member 43 form a track means for slidably mounting gates 364%in edge to edge relationship. A spacer plate 15 is disposed betweenfront panel 42 and vertically disposed member 43.

The gates 3640 are generally L-shaped and include front flanges 44-48and side flanges 5458. Gate 36 is sometimes referred to herein as thefirst gate or top end gate and gate 40 is sometimes referred to as thefourth gate or the bottom end gate.

A first or topmost gate 36 includes a shoulder 56 engageable with ashoulder 61 on a latch element indicated generally at 62, said latchelement being pivotally monoed intermediate its ends to side panel 49 bymeans of a pivot pin 64.

The lower end of latch element 62 includes a shoulder 65 movable intoobstructing relationship with a shoulder 66 on gate means 37 uponmovement of the topmost gate means 36 upwardly from the normal positionof FIG. 2 to the raised position of FIG. 3. In the event that both thetopmost gate means 36 and the next lower gate means 37 are raisedtogether, as is the case when an article is Withdrawn from said nextlower gate means 37, the shoulder 65 moves into a recess 70 provided forclearance below shoulder 66.

When both the topmost gate means 36 and the next lower gate means 37 areraised together, as is the case when an article is being withdrawn atgate means 37, the gate 38, the third one down from top, is lockeddownwardly in a closed position by a latch element indicated generallyat 74, said latch element being pivoted intermediate its ends to frontpanel 42 by means of a pivot pin 76.

When gate 37 is moved upwardly a shoulder 78 on the gate engages ashoulder 79 on the upper end of latch element 74 whereby a shoulder 81on the lower end of latch element 74 is moved into obstructingrelationship with a shoulder 8-2 on gate 38 in the manner illustrated inFIG. 3. It will be understood that when shoulder 81 on latch element 74is in latched engagement with shoulder 82 on gate 38 then gate 38 andall of the gates below gate 38 will be locked downwardly in their closedpositions.

With continued reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, a latch element 85 is pivotedintermediate its ends to side panel 49 and interconnected to latchelement 62 by a connecting member 86. A pivot pin 87 connects latchmember 62 with connecting member 86, and a pivot pin 88 connects latchmember 85 to connecting member 86. Hence, when upper latch member 62 isactuated by topmost gate 36 lower latch element 85, and all other latchelements lying below, are driven positively into obstructingrelationship with a shoulder on a respective gate. On the other hand, ifgate 3-8 is moved upwardly a shoulder 92 engages a shoulder 93 on latchelement 85 and moves latch element 85, and all latch elements lyingabove and below, into obstructing relationship with a shoulder on arespective gate. It should be pointed out that a clearance recess 2&1 isprovided to receive shoulder 81 on latch element 74 when gate 38 islifted upwardly. Similarly, a clearance slot 203 is provided forshoulder 95 on latch element 85 when gate 39 is lifted upwardly.

When gate 39 is lifted upwardly, shoulder 202 on the gate actuates ashoulder 206 on latch element 205 Whereby the latch element pivots aboutpin 268 and engages a shoulder, not illustrated, on the next lower gateor bottom end gate 40.

It should be pointed out that a certain amount of clearance is necessarybetween the shoulders 65 and 95, on the lower ends of the latch elementsand the confronting shoulders 65 and 98, formed by the notches in thegates, in order to permit the entry of the lower ends of the latchelements into the notches. The magnitude of clearance necessary topermit entry and exit of the latches into and out of the notches on theslidable gates is of such order that if all of the gates are liftedabove the bottommost gate and the top gate is held upwardly whileletting all the other gates drop free, then the lowermost gate wouldbecome unlatched were it not for the presence of connecting member 86winch serves to prevent the predetermined required clearance, betweeneach latch element and gate, from becoming cumulative. Hence it will beunderstood that connecting member 86 restricts the free movement of allthe latches so that the movement at each latch equals the movement ofall the others such that the movement of the lowermost latch isinsufficient to unlatch the lowermost gate which would permit the freewithdrawal of an article from the lowermost article releasing station.

As shown in phantom in FIG. 2 and in solid delineation in FIGS. 4 and 5,latch elements 62 and 85 are provided with a cover plate 185 which liesbetween the latch elements and connecting member 86. As seen in FIG. 2,pins 87 and 83, connecting the upper ends of latch elements 62 and 85with connecting member 86, pass through arcuate clearance slots 182 incover plate 180. The upper ends 184 of arcuate slots 182 form stops forpins 87 and 88 which stops limit the upward movement of the slidablymounted gates. The upward travel of the gates is also limited bymovement of the shoulders 65 on the lower ends of the latch elements 62into obstructing relationship with the shoulders 70 formed by thenotches in the gates.

With reference to FIG. 4, all of the gates are normally maintained in aclosed position by a first locking means in the form of a member 103mounted on topmost gate 36 and a second locking means in the form of amovable stop 161 that obstructs movement of all of the gates 364t). Whena solenoid 185 is energized, by insertion of a coin in a coin acceptancemechanism, not illustrated, arm 166 is shifted to the left wherebyU-shaped element 107 shifts movable stop 101 about pivot 108 to effectrelease of shoulder 102 on member 193.

Upon lifting of one of the gates 37-40, all the gates above, includingtopmost gate 36 and member 103 mounted thereon, also move upwardly. Theonly article that can be removed, however, is the article at the gatebeing lifted since the upper edges on the gates being lifted move intoobstructing relationship with the article positioned in the articlereleasing station next above.

It should be pointed out that arm 106 is secured to U- shaped member 197at a pivot pin 110.

As the gates are moved upwardly, connecting member 86, pivoted to theupper ends of the latch elements 62 and 85, swings rearwardly against anarm 112 and actuates switch 114, FIG. 3. solenoid 165 whereby movablestop 101 is moved to the right, FIG. 5, against the vertical edge 116 ofmember 162 since tension spring 117 constantly urges arm 106 to theright.

After an article has been removed through one of the gates and the gateis moved downwardly member 162 on the topmost gate 36 will drop to aposition wherein spring 117 urges movable stop 101 to a position overlying a shoulder 120. This prevents the gate from again being liftedafter a pivotally mounted gate, located be tween the inclined shelf andthe article releasing station, has been unlocked to permit anotherarticle to move into the releasing station and also before latches 62permit unlocking of gates 36-40.

When switch 114 is actuated by connecting member I 86, solenoid 105 isde-energized, as mentioned above, and

This breaks the circuit to in addition, switch 114 opens the circuit toa coin blockout release in the coin changer mechanism, not illustrated.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, all of the gates 36-49 are constantly urgeddownwardly by a spring pressed lever 176 pivoted to front panel 4-2 at apin 171. A tension sprin 173, connected between pivoted lever 170 andfront panel 42, constantly urges roller 175 against the upper edge oftopmost gate 36. A spacer pin 177 rides along the inner surface of frontpanel 42 as lever 17E pivots on pin 171 and serves to keep roller 175 inposition against the upper edge of topmost gate 36.

Reference is next made to FIGS. 1 and 6 which illustrate means forpreventing articles stacked on shelves 22- 26 from moving into thearticle releasing stations 28-32 when a respective gate 36 :tl is in araised article releasing position.

As seen in FIG. 6, a plurality of pivoted gates two of which areindicated generally at and 142 are mounted to the frame of the machineon pivot rods 145. Each of the slidable gates 3640, FIG. 6, includes anin-turned flange 148 that moves into the path of a flange on arespective pivoted gate. In FIG. 6, slidable gate 37 is in a raisedposition wherein flange 148 obstructs movement of flange 150 and pivotedgate 140. Gate 38, however, is in a closed configuration wherein flange150 on pivoted gate 142 clears flange 148 on slidable gate 38 whereby anarticle can be moved from shelf 23 into article releasing station 30.

Reverse movement of pivotally mounted gates 140 and 142 is prevented bya flange .152 which is normally in close proximity to a reverse movementobstructing stop 154 formed by an under surface of the floor of thearticle releasing station next above.

Referring again to FIG. 6, gate 142 is shown. in a partially pivotedconfiguration wherein flange 150 has been pivoted beyond flange 148 andflange 152 is departing from reverse movement obstructing stop 154..

V In operation, FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 show the configuration of the articlerelease mechanism'with all of the gates in a closed position. When acustomer desires to make a purchase he inserts the appropriate amount ofcoin in a coin acceptance mechanism, not illustrated, which energizessolenoid 105 whereby movable stop 101 is shifted away from obstructingrelationship with shoulder 102 as seen in FIG. 5. The customer nextgrasps the neck of a bottle and withdraws same which brings the taperedneck portion of the bottle into engagement with the upper edge of agate. The wedging action of the bottle being withdrawn urges the gateupwardly and the bottle is released.

As seen in FIG. 3 gate 37 is shown in a raised configuration in whichthe next gate 36 above has been moved upwardly since the upper edge ofgate 37 bears against the lower edge of gate 36. When gate 37 movesupwardly the upper edge thereof maintains the opening at gate 36 at itsnormal article restricting size so that an article cannot be withdrawnfrom the topmost article releasing station 28.

When gate 37 moves upwardly, inclined shoulder 60 on gate 36, nextabove, engages upper end 61 on latch element 62 and pivots the latchelement about pin 64 whereby shoulder 65 moves into obstructingrelationship with shoulder 70. As latch element 62 pivots connectingmember 86 moves upwardly and moves the latch elements below, such aslatch element 85, into obstructing relationship with shoulders 90.

Gate 38, next below gate 37 being lifted, is locked downwardly bypivoting of latch element 74 about pin 76. A shoulder 81 on the lowerend of latch element 74 moves into obstructing relationship withshoulder 82 on gate 38.

In the event that gate 38 is lifted thelower shoulder 81 of latchelement 74 will move into obstructing relationship with a shoulder 201in gate 38. At the same time the lower edge of a shoulder 92 on gate 38engages shoulder 93 on latch element 88 and pivots a lower shoulder 95into obstructing relationship with a shoulder 90 on the right side ofgate 39.

In the event that gate 39 is lifted shoulder 95 on the bottom of latchelement 85 moves into obstructing relationship with lower recess 304 ongate 39. At the same time a shoulder 292 on the left side of gate 39engages a shoulder 206 on a lowermost latch element 205 whereby saidlatch element is pivoted into obstructing relationship with the nextlower gate.

it will now be understood that although only five gates are incorporatedin the machine shown in the present drawings, any desired number ofgates can be assembled in vertical abutting relationship with anappropriate numher of latch elements such as 62, 85, and 74 arranged inthe manner illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

When any one of the gates is raised connecting member 86 will movetowards the rear of the machine, from the position of FIG. 2 to theposition of 1 16. 3, and depress blade 112 which actuates switch 114 tobreak the circuit that energized solenoid 105. This permits movable stop161 to move over against vertical edge 116 of member 163, said movablestop 101 being urged against edge 116 by the tension in spring 117.

After a bottle has been withdrawn the gate at the article releasingstation from which the bottle has been removed will move downwardly dueto the action of gravityand, in case the gates should become slightlymisaligned and stick, the gates will be pushed downwardly by springpressed lever 170.

As the gates move downwardly connecting member 86 moves towards thefront of the machine, from the position of FIG. 3 to the position ofFIG. 2, and releases blade 112 to connect the circuit by which solenoid105 is energized by insertion of coin into the coin acceptance mechanismduring the next cycle of operation.

As the top most gate 36 moves downwardly alone, or in combination withother gates, movable stop 101 moves over shoulder 124 and after suchengagement the gate cannot again be lifted. This prevents a purchaserfrom withdrawing an article and then lowering a gate to a positionwherein a pivoted gate, such as 150 in FIG. 6, is released by its flange148 to release another bottle from a storage shelf into the articlereleasing station. It will be understood that flange 148 on the back ofthe gate does not move out of obstructing relationship with flange 150until movable stop 191 has moved into obstructing relationship withshoulder 120. Hence, the pivoted gate 140 remains obstructed until theslidable gate 37 has moved downwardly to a position wherein its movementcannot be reversed. When slidable gate 37 closes completely movable stop191 moves into obstructing relationship with shoulder 102 on the top ofmember 163 whereby all of the gates are locked until solenoid 105 isagain energized during the next vending cycle.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as hereindisclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood thatother forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claimswhich follow:

I claim:

1. An article release mechanism for a vending machine of the type thatincludes a plurality of vertically spaced shelves, for supportingarticles to be vended, said mechanism comprising, in combination, framemeans; track means carried by said frame means; a plurality of slidablegates carried by said track means, each of said gates being slideablebetween a closed and an open position at a respective shelf wherebyarticlescan be released therefrom; a first latch element movably mountedto said frame means and including a first shoulder for engagement by afirst one of said gates and a second shoulder movable into obstructingrelationship with a second one of said gates responsive to movement ofsaid first gate, said first gate including a. first locking means; asecond latch element movably mounted to said frame means and including afirst shoulder for engagement by a third one of said gates and a secondshoulder movable into obstructing relationship with a fourth one of saidgates responsive to movement of said third gate; a memberinterconnecting said first and second latch elements whereby movement ofone of said latch elements imparts movement to the other of said latchelements; a third latch element on said frame means and shifted bymovement of said second gate into obstructing relationship with saidthird gate; a second locking means including a first position in thepath of said first locking means for obstructing movement of all of saidgate means in one direction and a second position clear of said pathwherein said gate means are not obstructed by said second locking means;and means coacting with said second locking means for shifting saidsecond locking means between said first and second positions,

2. An article release mechanism fora vending machine of the type thatincludes a plurality of vertically spaced shelves for supportingarticles to be vended, said mechanism comprising, in combination, framemeans; track means carried by said frame means; a plurality of slidablegates carried by said track means, each of said gates being slideablebetween a closed and an open position at a respective shelf wherebyarticles can be released therefrom; a first latch element movablymounted to said frame means and including a first shoulder forengagement by a first one of said gates and a second shoulder movableinto obstructing relationship with a second one of said gates responsiveto movement of said first gate; a second latch element movably mountedto said frame means and including a first shoulder for engagement by athird one of said gates and a second shoulder movable into obstructingrelationship with a fourth one of said gates responsive to movement ofsaid third gate; a member interconnecting said first and second latchelements whereby movement of one of said latch elements imparts movementto the other of said latch elements; a third latch element movablymounted to said frame means and including a first shoulder forengagement by said second one of said gatesand a second shoulder movableinto obstructing relationship with said third one of said gatesresponsive to movement of said second gate; a movable stop including afirst position for obstructing movement of all ofsaid gate means in onedirection and a second position wherein said gate means are notobstructed by said stop means; and means coacting with said movable stopfor shifting said movable stop between said first and second positions.

3. An article release mechanism for a vending machine of the type thatincludes a plurality of vertically spaced shelves for supportingarticles to be vended, said mechanism comprising, in combination, framemeans; track means carried by said frame means; a plurality of slidablegates carried by said track mean-s, each of said gates being slideablebetween a closed and an open position at a respective shelf wherebyarticles can be released therefrom; a-first latch element pivotallymounted intermediate its ends to said frame means and including a firstshoulder for engagement by a first one of said gates and a secondshoulder movable into obstructing relationship with a second one of saidgates responsive to movement of said first gate; a second latch elementpivotally mounted intermediate its ends to said frame means andincluding a first shoulder for engagement by a third one of said gatesand a second shoulder movable into obstructing relationship with afourth one of said gates responsive to movement of said third gate; amember interconnecting said first and second latch elements wherebymovement of on of said latch elements imparts movement to the other ofsaid latch elements; a third latch element pivotally mountedintermediate its ends to said frame means and including a first shoulderfor engagement by said second one of said gates and a second shouldermovable into obstructing relationship with said third one of said gatesresponsive to movement of said second gate; a movable stop including afirst position for obstructing movement of all of said gate means in onedirection and a second position wherein said gate means are notobstructed by said stop means; and means coacting with said movable stopfor shifting said movable stop between said first and second positions.

4. An article release mechanism for a vending machine of the type thatincludes a plurality of vertically spaced shelves for supportingarticles to be vended, said mechanism comprising, in combination, framemeans; track means carried by said frame means; a first gate meansslidably carried by said track means, each of said gates being slideablebetween a closed and an open position at a respective shelf wherebyarticles can be released therefrom; a second gate means abutting saidfirst gate means and including a first shoulder and a first recess; alatch element movably mounted to said frame, said latch element beingengaged by said first gate whereby sliding of said first gate means inone direction or concurrent sliding of said first and second gate meansin said one direction moves said latch element, said latch elementincluding a second shoulder movable into obstructing relationship withsaid first shoulder of said second gate upon movement of said first gatemeans, said second shoulder being movable into said first recess in saidsecond gate means responsive to concurrent sliding of said first andsecond gates; a third means abutting said second gate means; a fourthgate means abutting said third gate means and including a third shoulderand a second recess; a second latch element movably mounted to saidframe, said second latch element being engaged by said third gatewhereby sliding of said third gate means in one direction or concurrentsliding of said third and fourth gate means in said one direction movessaid second latch element, said second latch element including a fourthshoulder movable into obstructing relationship with said third shoulderon said fourth gate upon movement of said third gate means, said fourthshoulder being movable into said second recess in said fourth gate meansresponsive to concurrent sliding of said third and fourth gatemeans; athird latch element movable by movement ofsaid second gate means saidthird latch element including a fifth shoulder movable into obstructingrelationship with a sixth shoulder on said third gate means, said fifthshoulder being movable into a third recess in said third gate means; -amember interconnecting said first and second latch element; a movablestop including a first position for obstructing movement of all of saidgate means in one direction and a second position wherein said gatemeans are not obstructed by' said stop means; and means coactingwithsaid movable stop for shifting said movable stop between said firstand second positions.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein said third gate meansincludes a sixth shoulder and a third recess, said fifth shoulder onsaid third latch element being movable into obstructing engagement withsaid sixth shoulder by sliding of said second gate means away from saidthird gate means, said fifth shoulder being movable into said thirdrecess by concurrent sliding of said second and third gate means in saidone direction.

6. An article release mechanism for a vending machine of the type thatincludes a plurality of vertically spaced shelves for supportingarticles to be vended, sm'd mechanism comprising, in combination, framemeans; track means carried by said frame means; a first gate meansslidably carried by said track means, each of said gates being slideablebetween a closed and an open position .at a respective shelf wherebyarticles can be released therefrom; a second gate means abutting saidfirst gate means and including a first shoulder and a first recess; alatch element pivotally mounted intermediate its ends to said framemeans, said latch element being engaged by said first gate wherebysliding of said first gate means in one direction or concurrent slidingof said first and second gate means in said one direction moves saidlatch element, said latch element including a second shoulder movableinto obstructing relationship with said first shoulder of said secondgate upon movement of said first gate means, said second shoulder beingmovable into said first recess in said second gate means responsive toconcurrent sliding of said first and second gates; a third gate meansabutting said second gate means; a fourth gate means abutting said thirdgate means and including a third shoulder and a second recess; a secondlatch element pivotally mounted intermediate its ends to said framemeans, said second latch element being engaged bysaid third gate wherebysliding of said third gate means in one direction or by concurrentsliding of said third and fourth gate means in said one direction movessaid second latch element, said second latch element including a fourthshoulder movable into obstructing relationship with said third shoulderon said fourth gate upon movement of said third gate means, said fourthshoulder being movable into said second recess in said fourth gate meansresponsive to concurrent sliding of third and fourth gate means; a thirdlatch element mounted on said frame means and movable by movement ofsaid second gate means, said third latch element including a fifthshoulder movable into obstructing relationship with a sixth shoulder onsaid third gate means, said fifth shoulder being movable into a thirdrecess in said third gate means; a member interconnecting said first andsecond latch elements; a movable stop including a first position forobstructing movement of all of said gate means in one direct-ion and asecond position wherein said gate means are not obstructed by said stopmeans; and means coacting with said movable stop for shifting saidmovable stop between said first and second positions.

7. An article release mechanism for a vending machine of the type thatincludes a plurality of vertically spaced shelves for supportingarticles to be vended, said mechanism comprising, in combination, framemeans; track means carried by said frame means; a plurality of slidablegates carried by said track means, each of said gates being slideablebetween a closed and an open position at a respective shelf wherebyarticles can be released therefrom; a first latch element movablymounted to said frame means and including a first shoulder forengagement by a first one of said gates and a second shoulder movableinto obstructing relationship with a second one of said gates responsiveto movement of said first gate; a second latch element movably mountedto said frame means and including a first shoulder for engagement by athird one of said gates and a second shoulder movable into obstructingrelationship with a fourth one of said gates responsive to movement ofsaid third gate; a member interconnecting said first and second latchelements whereby movement of one of said latch elements imparts movement to the other of said latch elements; a third latch element on saidframe means and shifted by movement Of said second gate into obstrucingrelationship with said third gate; a first locking means operativelyassociated with said one gate and movable in one direction responsive tomovement of any one of said gates; a second locking means movable from afirst position wherein said second "locking means obstructs said firstlocking means and a second position wherein said first locking means isfree to move in said one direction; and means for moving said secondlocking means between said first and second positions.

8. The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein said first locking meansincludes a first shoulder for engagement by said second locking meansand a second shoulder for engagement with said second locking means.

9. The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein said second locking means isurged towards one of said positions by a spring means and wherein anelectrically actuated means is connected to said second locking meansfor moving said second locking means to the other of said positions.

10. An article release mechanism for a vending machine of the type thatincludes a plurality of vertically spaced shelves for supportingarticles to be vended, said mechanism comprising, in combination, framemeans; track means carried by said frame means; first and second stopmeans; a plurality of gates including bottom and top end gates slidablycarried by said track means, said bottom end gate abutting said firststop means and said top end gate being spaced from said second stopmeans so as to limit the available movement of said gates to sufiicientmovement to permit the release of only one article from between the edgeof a gate and a confronting portion of said frame means, said gatesincluding a plurality of shoulders; a plurality of latch elementsmovably mounted to said frame means along one side of said plurality ofgates, each of said latch elements being engaged by a shoulder on one ofsaid gates and movable by sliding of said one gate into obstructingrelationship with a shoulder on another of said gates; a secondplurality of latch elements movably mounted to said frame means alongthe other side of said plurality of gates, each of said latch elementsbeing engaged by a shoulder on one of said gates and movable by slidingof said one gate into obstructing relationship with a shoulder onanother of said gates; means interconnecting said plurality of latchelements; locking means including a first position for obstructingmovement of all of said gates whereby said available movement cannot beutilized and a second position wherein said gates are not obstructedfrom said available movement by said locking means; and means for movingsaid locking means between said first and second positions.

11. An article release mechanism for a vending machine of the type thatincludes a plurality of vertically spaced shelves communicating with aplurality of respective releasing stations, said mechanism comprising,in combination, frame means; track means carried by said frame means; aplurality of gate means slidably carried by said track means, each ofsaid gates being disposed at one of said article releasing stations,each of said gate means including a first shoulder and a secondshoulder; a first plurality of latch elements movably mounted on saidframe means along one side of said plurality of gates, each of saidlatch elements including a third shoulder for engagement by one of saidfirst shoulders of one of said gate means and a fourth shoulder movableinto obstructing relationship with one of said second shoulders onanother of said gate means; a member interconnecting said latch elementswhereby movement of one of said first plurality of latch elements causesmovement of the other of said latch elements; a second plurality oflatch elements movably mounted to said frame means along the other sideof said plurality of gates, each of said latch elements being engaged bya shoulder on one of said gates and movable by sliding of said one gateinto obstructing relationship with a shoulder on another of said gates;a first locking means operatively associated with an end gate means ofsaid plurality; a second locking means coacting with'said first lockingmeans and including a first position for obstructing movement of all ofsaid gate means in one direction and a second position wherein said gatemeans are not obstructed by said locking means; and means for movingsaid second locking means between said first and second positions.

12. An article release mechanism for a vending machine, said mechanismcomprising, in combination, a frame; a plurality of gate means; a latchelement pivotally mounted to said frame and including a first shouldermovably engaged by one of said gate means and a second shoulder movableinto obstructing relationship with another of said gate means; ashiftable member including a pivotal connection with said latch element;a second latch element pivotally mounted to said frame on the other sideof said plurality of gate means and including a third shoulder movablyengaged by one of said gate means and a second shoulder movable intoobstructing relationship with another of said gate means; a firstlocking means operatively associated with an end gate means of saidplurality; a second locking means coacting with said first locking meansand including a first position for obstructing movement of all of saidgate means in one direction and a second position wherein said gatemeans are not obstructed by said locking means; and means for movingsaid second locking means between said first and second positions.

13. An article release mechanism for a vending machine of the type thatincludes a plurality of vertically spaced shelves, said mechanismcomprising, in combination, frame means; track means carried by saidframe means; a plurality of slidable gates carried by said track meansand including a plurality of shoulders; a first plurality of latchelements pivotally mounted to said frame means on one side of saidplurality of slidable gates, each of said latch elements being pivotedintermediate a first end for engagement by one of said shoulders on oneof said slidable gates and a second end for movement into obstructingrelationship with another of said shoulders on a next adjacent slidablegate, a predetermined clearance space being provided between each ofsecond ends and a responsive confronting shoulder and a member connectedto each of said plurality of latch elements at connections spaced fromthe pivotal mounts of said latch elements for maintaining saidpredetermined clearance between each of said second ends and itsrespective confronting shoulder; a member interconnecting said firstplurality of latch elements whereby movement of one of said latchelements causes movement of the other of said latch elements; a secondplurality of latch elements movably mounted to said frame means alongthe Other side of said plurality of gates, each of said latch elementsincluding a first latch shoulder engaged by one of said shoulders onsaid gates and a second latch shoulder movable into obstructingrelationship with another one of said shoulders on said gates; a firstlocking means operatively associated with an end gate of said plurality;a second locking means coacting with said first locking means andincluding a first position for obstructing movement of all of said gatemeans in one direction and a second position wherein said gate means arenot obstructed by said locking means; and means for moving said secondlocking means between said first and second positions.

14. The apparatus defined in claim 13 wherein said plurality of latchelements are engaged by said slidable gates along the same sides thereofand wherein a second plurality of latch elements are engaged by saidslidable gates along the sides thereof opposite said first mentionedsides.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,727,654 Childers et al Dec. 20, 1955 2,766,906 Bookout et a1 Oct. 16,1956 2,819,815 Stumbaugh June 14, 1958 2,875,922 Hsu et al Mar. 3, 19592,898,001 Johnson Aug. 4, 1959

